Message from the President 

As one of the nation’s major public research universities, VCU develops solutions to global challenges. For the first time in VCU’s history, the ONE VCU Sustainability Plan unites the university and our health system to protect the health and well-being of our communities and environment. 

At VCU, we are committed to both the “research” and the “public” parts of our mission. Institutions like VCU are critically important for the research and innovation that helps us understand challenges, find solutions and invent new approaches to making the world a better place. 

That’s why VCU’s sustainability mission is so important. We are working toward carbon neutrality, and our new buildings - such as the LEED Gold certified STEM Building - are built to energy-efficient standards. VCU earned a STARS Gold rating from The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

On behalf of VCU and VCU Health, thank you to everyone who has played a part in creating and implementing this plan. 

Michael Rao, Ph.D.

President, Virginia Commonwealth University
Chair, VCU Health System Board of Directors